The rise of suicides using a deadly dose of barbiturates in Amsterdam and Rotterdam, the Netherlands, between 2006 and 2017

The three ‘advised’ suicide methods are helium asphyxiation, voluntarily stop eating and drinking and the use of a deadly dose of medication such as barbiturates. The aim of this study was to analyse the number of suicides resulting from barbiturate overdose and examine the influence of publications and internet on this suicide method in the two larger cities of the Netherlands. Data of suicides by medication and drugs overdose were extracted from the electronic registration systems of the forensic physicians of the district of Amsterdam and Rotterdam over the period 1 January 2006–31 December 2017. We analysed whether or not the number of suicides using barbiturate overdose has significantly risen since 2013. This was the year ‘right-to-die-organisations’ informed individuals about this method and a book was published describing this as a humane death. In addition, a regression analysis was used to examine which factors predict a suicide resulting from barbiturate overdose. A total of 553 overdose suicides were identified and 91 suicides resulting from barbiturate overdose were included for further evaluation. During 2013–2017 there were significantly (p